Method for installing controls to and operating an underwater well



b- 7, 1961 R. P. KNAPP ET AL 2,970,646

METHOD FOR INSTALLING CONTROLS 1'0 AND OPERATING AN UNDERWATER WELL 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1958 FIG. 2.

FIG.

FIG. 3.

INVENTORS. RICHARD P. KNAPP,

JAMES R. SIMS, FRANK T. FOCHT,

1961 R. P. KNAPP ETAL METHOD FOR INSTALLING CONTROLS TO AND OPERATING ANUNDERWATER WELL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1958 FIG. 6.

FIG. 5.

INVENTORS. RICHARD P. KNAPP, JAMES R. SIMS,

FRANK T. FOCHT,

IHETHOD FOR INSTALLING CONTROLS TO AND OPERATING AN UNDERWATER WELL 7Richard P. Knapp Frank T. Focht, assignments, Tulsa,

and James R. Sims, Houston, and Bellaire, Tex., assignors, by mesne toJersey Production Research Company, Okla., a corporation of DelawareFiled Jan. 30, 1958, Ser. No. 712,145 16 Claims. (Cl. 166-45) Thepresent invention is directed to a method for installing controls to anunderwater well. More particularly, the invention is directed tocontrolling and operating an underwater well. In its more specificaspects, the invention is concerned with a method for controlling andoperating an underwater well from a remote location.

The present invention may be briefly described as a method forinstalling controls to and operating an underwater well. In the presentinvention, lines which may be flexible are connected to a vessel at thewaters surface and thereafter the vessel is sunk at the site of a wellwith water being removed from the sunk vessel. A well is then drilledthrough the water-free vessel to penetrate a subterranean productivezone. A valved well head is placed on the well and the lines are thenconnected to the well head from the interior of the vessel. The vesselis then filled wtih a liquid which may con tain a corrosion inhibitorand a poison for marine growth. Thereafter, fluids, such ashydrocarbons, including crude petroleum and gaseous hydrocarbons, may beproduced from the well through one of the lines by operating the valvedwell head through another of said lines from a remote location. I Thepresent invention is quite advantageous and useful in that theemployment of divers is avoided to make up connections. Thus, allconnections are made in air withoutthe necessity for sending divers onbottom. This is especially important, for example, with electrical andother control systems for remotely controlling the Christmas tree valvesof a well head. Furthermore, the in vention is of considerable advantageand usefulness in tha't'the. top of the underwater chamber surroundingthe Well head is free of flow lines and control lines, making readyaccess thereto without the danger of fouling the lines through whichcontrol is effected and through which fluid isproduced. The presentinvention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing inwhich Figs. 1 to 6 inelusive are a stepwise illustration of the practiceof the present invention. Referring now to the drawing in whichidentical numerals will be employed to identfy identical parts, numeral11 designates an underwater chamber for a sub terranean well. Theunderwater chamber 11 has a conductor casing 12 attached thereto. Theunderwater chamber 11 is shown in an elevated position above the waterssurface 13 of a body of water 14 (in Fig. 1). The chamber 11 is held inthe elevated position by a Work boat or platform, floating or mobie, orvessel 15 provided with a crane 16, which holds the chamber 11 in theposition shown, by means of a line 17. At the waters surface 13 thechamber 11 has attached to it control lines 18 which may be flow linesfor conducting well fluids away from well head and service lines such asproviding electrical energy, pneumatic or hydraulic energy, and thelike, to the chamber 11. These how or atent control lines are suitablyattached to buoys 19 floating on the waters surface 13.

As shown in Fig. 2 the conductor casing 12 has been lowered into thewater in an open condition such that water enters the vessel 11. Theconductor casing 12 is then caused to penetrate through the water bottom20 and the underwater chamber or vessel 11 is resting below the waterssurface 13 with the lines 18 carried to or remaining on the waterssurface 13 by attachment to the buoys 19. Where water depths of lessthan about feet are encountered, the vessel 11 rests on bottom. In waterdepths greater than about 125 feet, the vessel 11 may be positionedabout 125 feet below the waters surface 13. In either instance, theconductor casing 12 may be driven or it may be set in place and cementedin a drilled hole. Where the vessel 11 is not resting on bottom it maybe provided with suitable auxiliary supporting means as may be required.The vessel 15 and the crane 16 may then be moved away.

Referring to Fig. 3 a caisson 21 is then floated in as desired and thensunk such that it is matingly engaged with its lower end 22 on theconical surface 23 of the chamber 11. The caisson is matingly engagedwith chamber 11 and drilling operations are conducted by methods such asdescribed in the patent to Knapp et al., No. 2,906,500, issued September29, 1959. It will be noted that the control lines 18 remain carried tothe water surface by buoys 19, as shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter, blowoutpreventers 24 are then installed. on the conductor casing 12. Theseblowout preventers may be of the conventional type employed in welldrilling operations. After the blowout preventers 24 have beeninstalledon the conductor pipe 12 and mud return. lines installed, a platform orother suitable means 25 may be installed above the caisson 21 to providefor a drilling operation with a drill string 26carrying on its lower enda drill bit 27. The platform or means 25 may be installed prior to thislatter operation, as may be desired. It will be noted that the drillstring 26 extends through the caisson 21, the vessel 11, and theconductor pipe 12 to form a borehole 28 penetrating a plurality ofsubterranean earth formations, such as strata, horizons or zones 29,which may be productive of hydrocarbons, such as crude petroleum, gasand other valuable fluids. During this operation the control lines 18remain connected to the buoys 19. This latter operation is particularlyillustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the drill string 26 with the drill bit 27 hasbeen removed and a tubing, not shown, suitably installed in a casinglining the borehole 28, also not shown. The platform 25 may be removedas shown in Fig. 5, and thereafter a well head, such as a dual Christmastree 30, is installed (prior to removing rig) on the conductor pipe 12,as shown in detail in Fig. 4. The control lines 18 may extend to thewaters surface 13, as shown in Fig. 4, or may be carried to the land atsome distance away or to a suitable control platform, vessel, and thelike where they are accessible to personnel. It is to be understood thatthe control lines 18 will include service lines, such as lines 18a and18b, which may be either electric service lines, hydraulic or pneumaticservice lines, for operating the valves of the Christmas tree 30, andflow lines and 18d.

Referring to Fig. 6, the flow lines 13c and 18d and service lines 13aand 18b are then connected by connecting means 31, 32 and 33 to theflanged or other connections 34 and 35 which carry the several linesthrough the exterior wall of the vessel 11.

The lines 31 connect to the flow lines of the Christmas tree while thelines 32 and 33 connect to remote control valve operators 36 and 37. Theremote control valve operators may suitably be operated electrically,

hydraulically, or pneumatically or by a combination of any two of thesemeans. These valve operators may be of the type such as manufactured byCameron Iron Works, Inc., Houston, Texas, and as shown and illustratedin the valve catalog of that company dated June, 1954.

After the connections 31, 32' and 33 have been made to the flow lines180 and 18d and to the service lines 18a and 18b, these several linesare carried to the remote location which may be onshore tanks andonshore ope'rating means or tanks located on a vessel or a platformand/or sources of energy remote from the Well site. The chamber orvessel 11 is then filled with a liquid such as one containing acorrosion inhibitor and a poison for marine life and thecover pate 38'is then attached to the vessel 11, closing the opening 39 which is shownin Fig. 5; Thereafter, the caisson 21" is removed ov'er the flexibleguide lines 40 and the flexible guide lines 40 are then; attached to asuitable buoy 41 to mark the well site. Thereafter, the valve controlsare operated remotely to allow production of the well.

In the description, especially with respect to Fig. 6, the lower valves42 and 43 of the Christmas tree are provided with bull plugs 44 and 45.The bull plug 44 may extend through the exterior wall of the vessel 11for use as may be desired.

As examples of corrosion inhibitors may be mentioned sodium chromate,caustic solution, commercial polar amine, carbon disulfide, soda ash,sodium silicate, dis'odium phosphate. 7 v

As examples of poisons for marine life may be mentioned copper sulfate,caustic solution, copper citrate, sodium pentachlorophenate, sodiumhypochlorite, sodium ars'enate, mercuric chloride, copper chromate. 7

While the present invention has been described with the stub lengthsof'the connections being attached to a floating buoy and remaining withtheir ends at the waters surface during the several operations, the freeends of the connections may be allowed to sink and connected to thefloating buoys by a suitable line which may be flexible or which may beat least semi-rigid. Usual p'pe has sufficient flexibility for thispurpose although flexible metallic or other pipe may be desirable insome instances. The free ends ofthe stubs may be closed to prevent themfilling with salt water. p

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completelydescribed and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful andsecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A methodfor installing controls to and operating an underwater Wellwhich comprises connecting lines to the exterior surface of a vessel atthe waters' surface, sinking said vessel at the site of a well,connecting a caisson which extends to above the waters surface to theupper end of sunk vessel, removing water from said caisson and sunkvessel, thereafter drilling said well through said caisson and the sunkvessel to penetrate a subterranean productive zone, placing a valvedproduction well head on said well, operativey connecting said well headto said lines from the interior of. said vessel, and then producingfluids and the like from said well through one of said lines byoperating said valved well head through another or" said lines with.energy provided from an accessible remote location.

2. A method for installing contros to and operating an underwater Wellwhich comprises connecting control lines to the exterior surface of avessel atthe waters surface, sinking said vessel at the site of a well,cohnecting a caisson which extends to above the waterss. ..cc to theupper end of said sunk vessel, removing water from .said caisson andsunk vessel, thereafter drilling said well through said caisson andthesunk vessel to penetrate a subterranean hydrocarbon productive zone,piacing a valved production well head on said well, operativelyconnecting said well head to said control lines from the interior ofsaid vessel, and then producing hydrocarbons and the like from said wellthrough said control lines by operating said valved well head withenergy provided from an accessible remote location.

3. A method for installing controls to and operating an underwater wellwhich comprises connecting at least one flow line to the exteriorsurface of a vessel at the waters surface, sinking said vessel at thesite of a well, connecting a caisson which extends to above the waterssurface to the upper end of said vessel, and removing water from saidcaisson and the sunk vessel, thereafter drilling said well through saidcaisson and the sunk vessel to penetrate a subterranean hydrocarbonproductive zone, placing a valved production well head on said well insaid water-free vessel, operatively connecting said Well head to saidflow line from the interior of said waterfree vessel, filling saidwater-free vessel with a liquid,

closing said filled vessel, removing said caisson, and then producinghydrocarbons and the like from said well through said flow line byoperating said valved well heart with energy provided from an accessibleremote location: 4. A method for installing controls to and operating anunderwater well which comprises connecting at least one service line tothe exterior surface of a vessel atthe waters surface, sinking saidvessel at the site of a well, connecting a caisson which extends toabove the waters surface to the upper end of said sunk vessel, removingwater from said caisson and sunk vessel, thereafter drills ing said wellthrough said caisson and the sunk vessel to penetrate a subterraneanhydrocarbon productive zone; placing a valved production well head onsaid well, operatively connecting said well head to said service linefrom the interior of said vessel, filling said vessel with-a liquid, andthen producing hydrocarbons and the like from said well by operatingsaid valved well head by said service line with energy provided from anaccessible remote location.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 in which pneumatic energy isprovided through the service line.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4 in which hydraulic energy isprovided through the service line.

7. A method in accordance with claim 4 in which hydraulic and pneumaticenergy are provided through the service line.

8. A method in accordance with claim 4' in which electrical energy isprovided through the serviceline.

9. A method in accordance with claim 4 iniwhich electrical and hydraulicenergy are provided through the service line.

10. A method in accordance with claim 4 in which electrical andpneumatic energy are provided through the service line. I

11. A method in accordance with claim 4 in which electrical, hydraulicand pneumatic energy are provided through the service line.

12. A method for installing controls to and operating an underwater wellwhich comprises connecting. control service and flow lines to theexterior surface of a vessel at the waters surface, sinking said vesselat the site of a vsell, connecting a caisson which extends to above thewaters surface to the open end of said vessel, and res moving water fromsaid caisson and the sunk vessel, thereafter drilling said well throughsaid caisson and the" sunk vessel to penetrate a subterraneanhydrocarbon pro ductive zone, placing a valved production well head onsaid well in said water-free vessel, operatively connecting said wellhead to said control service and flow lines from the interior of saidWater-free vessel, filling said waterfree vessel with a liquid, closingsaid vessel and then producing hydrocarbons and the like from said wellthrough said flow lines by operating said valved wellhead by saidservice lines with energy provided fromanaceeS-r sible remote location.I

H 13. A method for installing controls to and-operating. an underwaterwell which comprises connecting lines to i a. n- .J M

the exterior surface of a vessel at the Waters surface, said vesselhaving a conductor casing attached to one end, sinking said vessel atthe site of a well, and penetrating the water bottom with said casing,connecting a caisson which extends to above the waters surface to theupper end of said sunk vessel, removing water from said caisson and sunkvessel, thereafter drilling said well through said caisson and the sunkvessel and through said casing to penetrate a subterranean hydrocarbonproductive zone, placing a valved Christmas tree on said well,operatively connecting said Christmas tree to said lines from theinterior of said vessel, filling said vessel with a liquid, closing saidvessel, and then producing hydrocarbons and the like from said wellthrough one of said lines by operating said valved Christmas tree byanother of said lines with energy provided from an accessible remotelocation.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 in which the casing pentratesthe water bottom by driving.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 in which the casing penetratesthe water bottom by setting and cementing the casing in a drilled hole.

16. A method for installing controls to and operating an underwater wellwhich comprises connecting lines to the exterior surface of a vessel atthe waters surface,

sinking said vessel at the site of a well, connecting a caisson whichextends to above the waters surface to the upper end of said sunkvessel, removing water from said caisson and sunk vessel, thereafterdrilling said well through said caisson and the sunk vessel to penetratea subterranean zone, placing a valved production well head on said wellin said Water-free vessel, operatively connecting said well head to saidlines from the interior of said water-free vessel, and then producingfluids and the like from said well through one of said lines byoperating said valved well head through another of said lines withenergy provided from an accessible remote location References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 962,019 Flood et a1 June21, 1910 2,171,672 Plummer Sept. 5, 1939 2,606,003 McNeill Aug. 5, 19522,669,431 Crowell Feb. 16, 1954 2,684,575 Pryor et al. July 27, 19542,854,215 Cox et al. Sept. 30, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 160,865 GreatBritain Apr. 7, 1921

